Collapsible joint to support a tent and associated methods

Abstract

A first elongate member and a second elongate member of a collapsible joint may each be pivotally engaged with at least one connecting member. A first locking pin may be positioned within aligned openings in the first elongate member and the at least one connecting member in a first engaged position. A second locking pin may be positioned within openings in the second elongate member and the at least one connecting member in a second engaged position. When the first locking pin is in the first engaged position and the second locking pin is in the second engaged position, the first elongate member may be substantially coaxial with the second elongate member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A collapsible joint configured to support a tent, the collapsible joint comprising:
 a first elongate member having:
 a first elongate member longitudinal axis; 
 a first elongate member opening; and 
 a first elongate member pivot axis, the first elongate member opening being spaced apart from the first elongate member pivot axis along the first elongate member longitudinal axis; 
   a second elongate member having:
 a second elongate member longitudinal axis; 
 a second elongate member opening; and 
 a second elongate member pivot axis, the second elongate member opening being spaced apart from the second elongate member pivot axis along the second elongate member longitudinal axis; 
   a first connecting bar having:
 a first connecting bar longitudinal axis; 
 a first connecting bar pivot point; 
 a second connecting bar pivot point; 
 a first connecting bar opening; and 
 a second connecting bar opening, the first connecting bar pivot point, the second connecting bar pivot point, the first connecting bar opening, and the second connecting bar opening being offset from each other along the first connecting bar longitudinal axis, wherein the first connecting bar is configured to pivotally couple the first elongate member to the second elongate member with a first pintle substantially coaxially aligned with the first elongate member pivot axis, the first pintle pivotally coupling the first elongate member to the first connecting bar at the first connecting bar pivot point and a second pintle substantially coaxially aligned with the second elongate member pivot axis, the second pintle pivotally coupling the second elongate member to the first connecting bar at the second connecting bar pivot point; 
   a second connecting bar parallel to the first connecting bar, the second connecting bar having:
 a second connecting bar longitudinal axis; 
 a third connecting bar pivot point; 
 a fourth connecting bar pivot point; 
 a third connecting bar opening; and 
 a fourth connecting bar opening, the third connecting bar pivot point, the fourth connecting bar pivot point, the third connecting bar opening, and the fourth connecting bar opening being offset from each other along the second connecting bar longitudinal axis, wherein the second connecting bar is configured to pivotally couple the first elongate member to the second elongate member with the first pintle substantially coaxially aligned with the first elongate member pivot axis, the first pintle pivotally coupling the first elongate member to the second connecting bar at the third connecting bar pivot point and the second pintle substantially coaxially aligned with the second elongate member pivot axis, the second pintle pivotally coupling the second elongate member to the second connecting bar at the fourth connecting bar pivot point; 
   a first locking pin configured to substantially prevent the first connecting bar and the second connecting bar from pivoting with respect to the first elongate member when the first locking pin is engaged within the first connecting bar opening, the third connecting bar opening, and the first elongate member opening in a first engaged position; and   a second locking pin configured to substantially prevent the first connecting bar and the second connecting bar from pivoting with respect to the second elongate member when the second locking pin is engaged within the second connecting bar opening, the fourth connecting bar opening, and the second elongate member opening in a second engaged position, wherein when the first locking pin is in the first engaged position and the second locking pin is simultaneously in the second engaged position, the first elongate member and the second elongate member are substantially coaxially aligned with each other, the first elongate member and the second elongate member are substantially prevented from pivoting with respect to each other, and the first locking pin and the second locking pin are intermediate the first pintle and the second pintle along an engaged position longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         2 . The collapsible joint of  claim 1 , wherein the first connecting bar comprises a first proximal elongate edge including a first superior end, and wherein the second connecting bar comprises a second proximal elongate edge including a second superior end, the collapsible joint further comprising a cross bar coupled to the first superior end of the first proximal elongate edge of the first connecting bar and the second superior end of the second proximal elongate edge of the second connecting bar, the cross bar including a proximal cross bar surface configured to receive an assembly force. 
     
     
         3 . The collapsible joint of  claim 1 , wherein the collapsible joint comprises an engaged position longitudinal axis, an engaged position lateral axis and an engaged position normal axis, the engaged position normal axis being perpendicular to both the engaged position longitudinal axis and the engaged position lateral axis, wherein the first connecting bar opening, the second connecting bar opening, the first pintle, and the second pintle are aligned along the engaged position normal axis. 
     
     
         4 . The collapsible joint of  claim 1 , wherein the collapsible joint comprises an engaged position longitudinal axis, an engaged position lateral axis and an engaged position normal axis, the engaged position normal axis being perpendicular to both the engaged position longitudinal axis and the engaged position lateral axis, wherein at least one of the first connecting bar opening, the second connecting bar opening, the first pintle, and the second pintle is offset along the engaged position normal axis relative to another one of the first connecting bar opening, the second connecting bar opening, the first pintle, and the second pintle. 
     
     
         5 . The collapsible joint of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first resilient safety retainer coupled to the first locking pin and configured to resist removal of the first locking pin from the first connecting bar opening, the third connecting bar opening, and the first elongate member opening; and   a second resilient safety retainer coupled to the second locking pin and configured to resist removal of the second locking pin from the second connecting bar opening, the fourth connecting bar opening, and the second elongate member opening.   
     
     
         6 . The collapsible joint of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first flexible member;   a second flexible member;   a third elongate member; and   a fourth elongate member, wherein the third elongate member is coupled to the first elongate member via the first flexible member and the fourth elongate member is coupled to the second elongate member via the second flexible member.   
     
     
         7 . A collapsible joint comprising:
 a first elongate member having:
 a first elongate member longitudinal axis; 
 a first elongate member opening; and 
 a first elongate member pivot axis, the first elongate member opening being spaced apart from the first elongate member pivot axis along the first elongate member longitudinal axis; 
   a second elongate member having:
 a second elongate member longitudinal axis; 
 a second elongate member opening; and 
 a second elongate member pivot axis, the second elongate member opening being spaced apart from the second elongate member pivot axis along the second elongate member longitudinal axis; 
   a connecting bar having:
 a connecting bar longitudinal axis; 
 a first connecting bar pivot point; 
 a second connecting bar pivot point; 
 a first connecting bar opening; and 
 a second connecting bar opening, the first connecting bar pivot point, the second connecting bar pivot point, the first connecting bar opening, and the second connecting bar opening being offset from each other along the connecting bar longitudinal axis, wherein the connecting bar is configured to pivotally couple the first elongate member to the second elongate member with a first pintle substantially coaxially aligned with the first elongate member pivot axis, the first pintle pivotally coupling the first elongate member to the connecting bar at the first connecting bar pivot point and a second pintle substantially coaxially aligned with the second elongate member pivot axis, the second pintle pivotally coupling the second elongate member to the connecting bar at the second connecting bar pivot point; 
   a first locking pin configured to substantially prevent the connecting bar from pivoting with respect to the first elongate member when the first locking pin is engaged within the first connecting bar opening and the first elongate member opening in a first engaged position; and   a second locking pin configured to substantially prevent the connecting bar from pivoting with respect to the second elongate member when the second locking pin is engaged within the second connecting bar opening and the second elongate member opening in a second engaged position, wherein when the first locking pin is in the first engaged position and the second locking pin is simultaneously in the second engaged position, the first elongate member and the second elongate member are substantially coaxially aligned with each other and the first elongate member and the second elongate member are substantially prevented from pivoting with respect to each other.   
     
     
         8 . The collapsible joint of  claim 7 , wherein the connecting bar further comprises a proximal elongate edge including a first superior end having a cross bar coupled thereto, the cross bar including a proximal cross bar surface configured to receive an assembly force. 
     
     
         9 . The collapsible joint of  claim 7 , wherein the collapsible joint comprises an engaged position longitudinal axis, an engaged position lateral axis and an engaged position normal axis, the engaged position normal axis being perpendicular to both the engaged position longitudinal axis and the engaged position lateral axis, wherein the first pintle and the second pintle are intermediate the first locking pin and the second locking pin along the engaged position longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         10 . The collapsible joint of  claim 7 , wherein the collapsible joint comprises an engaged position longitudinal axis, an engaged position lateral axis and an engaged position normal axis, the engaged position normal axis being perpendicular to both the engaged position longitudinal axis and the engaged position lateral axis, wherein at least one of the first locking pin and the second locking pin are intermediate the first pintle and the second pintle along the engaged position longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         11 . The collapsible joint of  claim 7 , wherein the collapsible joint comprises an engaged position longitudinal axis, an engaged position lateral axis and an engaged position normal axis, the engaged position normal axis being perpendicular to both the engaged position longitudinal axis and the engaged position lateral axis, wherein the first connecting bar opening, the second connecting bar opening, the first pintle, and the second pintle are aligned along the engaged position normal axis. 
     
     
         12 . The collapsible joint of  claim 7 , wherein the collapsible joint comprises an engaged position longitudinal axis, an engaged position lateral axis and an engaged position normal axis, the engaged position normal axis being perpendicular to both the engaged position longitudinal axis and the engaged position lateral axis, wherein at least one of the first connecting bar opening, the second connecting bar opening the first pintle, and the second pintle is offset along an engaged position normal axis relative to another one of the first connecting bar opening, the second connecting bar opening the first pintle, and the second pintle. 
     
     
         13 . The collapsible joint of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a first flexible member;   a second flexible member;   a third elongate member; and   a fourth elongate member, wherein the third elongate member is coupled to the first elongate member via the first flexible member and the fourth elongate member is coupled to the second elongate member via the second flexible member.   
     
     
         14 . A method of assembling the collapsible joint of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 providing the collapsible joint in an unengaged configuration;   aligning the first connecting bar opening, the third connecting bar opening, and the first elongate member opening;   positioning the first locking pin in the first engaged position within the first connecting bar opening, the third connecting bar opening, and the first elongate member opening;   aligning the second connecting bar opening, the fourth connecting bar opening, and the second elongate member opening;   positioning the second locking pin in the second engaged position within the third connecting bar opening, the fourth connecting bar opening, and the second elongate member opening such that the first elongate member and the second elongate member are substantially coaxially aligned with each other.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the collapsible joint further comprises a cross bar coupled to a first superior end of a first proximal elongate edge of the first connecting bar and a second superior end of a second proximal elongate edge of the second connecting bar, the cross bar including a proximal cross bar surface configured to receive an alignment force. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , applying an alignment force to a cross bar to align the third connecting bar opening, the fourth connecting bar opening, and the second elongate member opening. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , positioning the first elongate member and the second elongate member such that the first elongate member and the second elongate member are substantially coaxially aligned with each other before positioning the first locking pin in the first engaged position or the second locking pin in the second engaged position. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first pintle and the second pintle are intermediate the first locking pin and the second locking pin. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the collapsible joint comprises an engaged position longitudinal axis, an engaged position lateral axis and an engaged position normal axis, the engaged position normal axis being perpendicular to both the engaged position longitudinal axis and the engaged position lateral axis, wherein the first connecting bar opening, the second connecting bar opening, the first pintle, and the second pintle are aligned along the engaged position normal axis. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the collapsible joint comprises an engaged position longitudinal axis, an engaged position lateral axis and an engaged position normal axis, the engaged position normal axis being perpendicular to both the engaged position longitudinal axis and the engaged position lateral axis, wherein at least one of the first connecting bar opening, the second connecting bar opening, the first pintle, and the second pintle is offset along the engaged position normal axis relative to another one of the first connecting bar opening, the second connecting bar opening, the first pintle, and the second pintle.